Apparatus for feeding liquid to drying drums



- 8, 1946- e. N. HARCOURT- ETAL 2,392,332

/ APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID T'O DRYING DRUMS 4 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed June 9, 1945 NVENTQR BY W #9 ATTORNEYS e. N. HARCOURT ET AL 3 2,

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID TO DRYING DRUMS V 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1943 ATTORNEYS I Jan. 8, 1946. v e. NjHARcouRT z-rAL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID TO DRYING DRUMS Filed June 9, 194:5 4 Sheets-Sheet s 155 51 \H13W "Mu. I 26% z? M 0. 7V INVENTORS ATTORNEY.

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Jan- 8, 1946- G. N. HARCOURT ETAL 2,392,332

' APPAIATUSFOR FEEDING LIQUID TO DRYING DRUMS Filed June 9, 1943 4 Shets-Sheet 4 2: ,'i gr? ,3 IL l Ii 44% [-975 I 7y 7g JNVENTORS' ,&14MM

Patented Jan. 8, 11946 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING LIQUID TO DRYING DRUMS Guy N. Harcourt, Buffalo, and Duncan B. Montgomery, Gardenville, N. Y., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 9, 1943, Serial No. 490,166

10 Claims. (Cl. 1 59 11) This invention relates to a liquid feed for atmospheric and vacuum double drum driers and more particularly to the pendulum type of feed shown in the United States Lavett Patent No. 2,129,329, dated September 6, 1938, the present invention being designed as an improvement on the structure disclosed in this patent.

In the operation of this prior feed device the deposit of the liquid, particularly when viscous, was not entirely uniform in the center and at the ends of the drums and the liquid also splashed on the overhead ventilating hood and other parts of the drier on which it hardened and could only be removed with difficulty. It was also found that when viscous feed liquid, such as concentrated distillery slops, was deposited from directly above the center of the valley between the drums, the dilute feed liquid would pass directly down through the center of-the pool to the bite or line of closest approach of the drums and was drawn through the bite and deposited as a layer on the underside of each drum without proper preconcentration in the boilingpool in the Valley between the drums. Thus, instead of mixing with the boiling liquid' in the pool and bringing it to a uniformv density, the dilute feed-liquid would pass directly through the center of the pool without thorough admixture with the liquid already in the pool and hence the pool had a core or center part of light or dilute liquid and side layers, against the drums, of heavy or concentrated material. With this condition uniformity of drying and concentration of the product could not be accurately maintained.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a feed mechanism for double drum driers whereby the liquid is distributed more uniformly the full length of the valley formed by the drums 7 thereby to secure a more uniform drying effect;

Another object of this invention is to deposit the liquid on opposite sides of the center of the valley formed by the opposing surfaces of the drums and thus insure the thorough admixture of the dilute feed liquid with the liquid in the boiling pool retained in the valley so that this pool is maintained at uniform density throughout and the liquid withdrawn from the pool b the drums likewise is of uniform density to permit of more accurate control of the drying conditions to obtain a product of uniform quality.

A further object of this invention is to provide 'a baffle means for drum driers whereby any splashings of liquid from the boiling pool of the liquid or from the hot drum surfaces are prevented from reaching the ventilating hood and other parts of the drier, this baffle means intercepting practically all the splashings and returning the same to the pool in the valley between the drums thereby to prevent sticking of the splashings on the hood, eliminating waste of material and greatly reducing the amount of cleaning to be done.

Another object is to so organize the baflles that the vapor is carried through to the hood in a sub? stantially saturated condition and so that the baffles are slightly cooler than the vapor. By

this arrangement a part of the saturated vapor condenses on the bafiles to maintain their useful surfaces in a moist condition, this insuring that the splashings which strike the bafiles largely slide back into the pool instead of baking on the bafiles, a condition which would be as undesirable as baking on the hood as with prior devices.

A still further object of this invention is to so organize the liquid feed mechanism and its associated baffle that parts of the same may be utilized for delivering water or other liquid to the trough from which the feed liquid is delivered into the valley between the drums and thus facilitate the operation of cleaning the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. l is a fragmentary end elevation of an atmospheric double drum drier equipped with this invention, 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the same. I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section thereof, on an enlarged'scale, taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the liquid feeding trough and associated parts, this view' being taken on line 4- -4, Fig. 3 looking downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a diminutive view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating, in particular, the pendulum feed mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a diminutive view similar to Fig. 2 and likewise particularly illustrating the pendulum feed mechanism.

Those parts of the drying apparatus shown in the drawings as illustrating the type of double drum drier adapted to receive this invention consist generally of a main frame I, a pair of horizontal, parallel cylindrical drums or rolls ll journaled on the frame and forming between their upper parts a valley above the bite 12 along which the opposing parts of the drums are arranged in closely spaced relation to each other. The opposite ends of the valley between the upper parts of the drums are closed by vertical end boards 9 extending across the ends of the valley and drums and connected with the adjacent parts is being dried are withdrawn; which hood has its lower end spaced by an air passage I4 from the drums to permit free movement of external air into the hood from the space around the drums. The hood is supported on the frame by means of posts l5 and its upper end is connected with an exhausting device of any suitable character to carry away the vapors entering the hood. The drums are hollow and heated internally by steam or other heating medium and the same are rotated so that the upper parts thereof move inwardly and toward the bite between the same. The liquid to be dried is deposited in 'a pool of liquid maintained in the valley formed by the upper inner opposing parts of the drums and is carried in the form of films from the bite between the same downwardly around the underside of the drums and upwardly on the outer sides of the same during which movement the films are dried The drums are maintained at a being one of the objects of this invention to prevent this splashed liquid from'reaching the hood l3 and baking thereon, or from baking on any baflles used to prevent these splashings from reaching the hood. During the last part of the upward movement of the films on the outer sides of the drums the dried films of liquor are removed from the drums by scrapers, blades or doctors l8 P eparatory to depositing tresh coats of liquid on the cleared surfaces of the drums.

The means an feeding the liquid to'be dried to the heating or drying drums include a liquid feed pipe H which is pivoted at'its upper end so that its, lower discharge end oscillates like a pendulum in a vertical plane lengthwise of the vallei between the opposing upper parts of the drums in the manner shown and described in the patent previously mentioned and also as hereinafter described. In this prior patent the feed pipe moved comparatively rapidly when in its central position and comparatively slowly when in its extreme positions of its swinging movement which caused the, liquid to be delivered unevenly into the pool at liquid lengthwise of the valley between the drums. Further, liquid splashing from the pool wouldstrike the 'hood where it would dry .and thus render necessary subsequent removal of the dried liquid from the hood which'work was difficult and interrupted the operation of meanparatus unnecesarily. The improvementsdn liquid feeds "which overcame the above mentioned difllculties in accordanoe with the present invention are constructed feed pipe and these side walls are connected with each other by sheet metal flanges 20 projecting downwardly from the lower edges of the side walls and connected with each other by spotwelding or otherwise. The end walls are V-shaped and each of these is connected at its downwardly converging edge with the corresponding end por-' tions of the side wallsof the hopper by spot welding, brazing or otherwise.

Adjacent to its lower inner edge each side wall of the distributing hopper is provided with a longitudinal row of discharge openings 2| and the openings in one row are out of line transversely with the openings in the other row so that the several openings are staggered, as shown in Fig. 4, and cause the liquid passing through the same to be delivered in alternate streams on opposite sides of the bite between the drums.

Below each row of liquid discharge openings 2! is arranged a longitudinal distributing plate, wing or shelf 22 which isinclined outwardly and is connected at its inner edges with the respective hopper flange 20 whileits outer edge terminates in line with a vertical longitudinal plane on one side of the bite between the drums. The opposite ends of the hopper engage the inner side of the upper parts of the end boards 9, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Various means may be employed for mountingthis hopper in its operative position but the preferred means for this purpose, shown in the drawings, include two longitudinal supporting pipes or rods 23 which rest at their opposite ends on horizontal cross bars 2 4 secured crosswise to the outer side of the. upper edge portions of the end boards 9, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The upper edges of the hopper side walls are .connected with these supporting pipes by forming these edges in the shape of curls 25 which are bent inwardly over the pipes so as to form a connection between the same, as best shown in Fig. 3.

retaining lugs 26 arranged on the upper side of the supporting bars and adapted to be engaged by the inner side of the supporting pipes 23.

In order to prevent the distributing hopper from sagging between its ends intermediate supports are provided for the side walls of the same, each of which preferably comprises a hanger 21 secured -at'its upper .endto a cross bar 28 on the inner side of the hopper and provided at its lower endwith an inwardly and upwardly projecting hook 29, and a clip 30 secured to the outer side of the central part of the respective hopper side .wall and engaged by'the book of the hanger and provided with lugs 31' which are arranged on opposite sides-of the hook 29 and prevent horizontal displacement of said hook and clip but enable the same to be readily detached vertically from one I another.

drums. In the preferred construction this hoD- per comprises two inclined side walls I! of sheet metal which converge downwardly and two transversesheetmetalendwflls lo. 'lhlowfl'edges In order to enable the supporting pipes 23 to be utilized as part of the means for cleaning the feed hopper and associated parts, each of these pipes is provided on its underside withgopenings- 32 preferably arranged in a longitudinal rowand adapted to discharge water from the interior of thesamedownwardlyovertheinclinedupper side dotted lines in Fig. 2.

,The numeral 35 represents two upright splash plates or walls of sheet metal or other suitable material, each of which is arranged lengthwise above the highest part of one of the drums and engages its opposite ends with the corresponding ends of the end boards 9. The lower edgeof each splash plate is provided with a laterally projecting flange 36 which is arranged close to the periphery of the respective drum, as shown in Fig. 3, and the same is capable of vertical adjustment relative to this drum, this being preferably accomplished by providing the upper edge of this plate with an outwardly projecting hook flange 31 which engages over an adjusting rail 38 arranged lengthwise of this splash plate and extending over the transverse bars 24 of the end boards 9, and adjusting screws 39 threaded into said bars and engaging with the underside of said lower edges of the same close to the periphery of of liquor.

the drum without producing any scraping effect thereon.

The numeral 40 represents two splash curtains or covers of sheet metal or other material each of which inclines inwardly and extends across the space between the upper edge of one of the splash plates 35 and the corresponding supporting bar 28 within the central part of the hood l3. Each of these splash curtains is provided at its lower edge with a depending longitudinal flange 4| engaging with the upper part of the inner side of the corresponding splash plate 35 and the same is removably supported in this position by means of a hook flange 42 arranged at the upper end of this splash curtain and engaging over the respective bar 42 of the hood and a plurality of hookshaped clips 43 projecting outwardly from the lower edge of this splash curtain and engaging over the corresponding adjusting rail 38, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.- For convenience in manipulating the splash curtains when applying the same to the apparatus or removing the same therefrom, each of these splash curtains is provided with handles 46 on its outer side, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. I

For the purpose of confining the supporting rails and the splash plates and curtains supported thereon in the required operative position relative to the drums, each of the supporting bars is provided with stop lugs which project upwardly adjacent to the outer side of the supporting rails, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and therefore form stops which limit the movement of these rails and the parts carried thereby away from the longitudinal center of the apparatus.

As previously indicated, the feed pipe I] is os- 52 are mounted bearings 55 in which a horizontal rocking feed pipe 56 is journaled. One end of this feed pipe is connected by a swivel elbow 51 with a liquor feed pipe 58 and the other end of the pipe 56 is plugged or closed, the liquor from the rocking feed pipe 56 being discharged through the depending liquor feed pipe H, the lower discharge end of which is located in the'hopper provided by the walls i8. The liquor feed pipe and particularly'its outlet can be of such size as to create no head of liquor in the pipe or the outlet may be confined so as to maintain a pressure in the pipe. The liquor is preferably supplied by means of avariable speed pump (not shown) of such construction as to deliver a constant quantity It will also be understood, however, that the liquor may be fed by gravity or any other suitable means. The axis of the rocking feed pipe 56 is at right angles to the axes of the drums II and therefore upon rocking the feed pipe 56 the depending feed pipe ll isswung along the hopper provided by the walls I8 in the manner of a pendulum.

To so rock the rocking feed pipe 56 the closed end thereof is providedwith a rock lever 60 which is connected by a link 6| with a rock arm 62 fast to a shaft 63. This shaft 63 extends parallel with the rocking feed pipe 56 and is preferably supported by bearings 64 carried by an angle frame 65, the vertical leg of which is supported by the reinforced lower rim of the hood l3 and the horizontal leg of which is supported by the vent stack 52. A second rock arm 66 is secured to the rock shaft 63 and this rock arm is connected by an cillated back and forth, in-the manner of a penduadjustable rod 61 with a crank 68 on a crank shaft 69. The crank shaft 69'is oscillated from the trunnion of one of the drums H by means of an endless chain 10 passing around a sprocket 1!, fast to a. shaft 12 driven from a gear 13 provided on the trunnion of the adjacent drum II.

' The speed at which the pendulum feed pipe I! swings can be adjusted to suit the particular liquor being handled by changing the sprocket H and gear '13. On certain concentrated solutions, three complete cycles per revolution of the drums gave excellent results. of the pendulum feed pipe can be increased or decreased by lengthening or shortening any-of the rock arm centers.

.i! so that it is discharged from the lower end of the feed pipe ll directly into the hopper provided'by the walls l8. As the drums are rotated the gear 13, shaft 12 and sprocket ll, through the chain '10, drive the crank 68 which, through the adjustable rod 61, reciprocates the arm 66 and rock shaft .63, this reciprocating motion being transmitted through the rock arm 62, link 6i and rock arm 60 to the rocking feed pipe 56. The length of swing so provided is adjusted by adjusting the eifective length of the arm 66 by selecting one of the holes 15 to attach the rod 61 and is preferably adjusted so that the depending feed pipe I! swings in the manner of a pendulum 'back and forth between the extremities of the hopper formed by the walls l8 and distributes the liquorthe full length of this hopper.

The'form of the invention shown in Fig 5 is The length of the [swin the end of the stroke where the movement of the pendulum is. reversed, the rate of travel of the pendulum'horizontally is slower than at the center. Therefore the pendulum passes through the center of its swing at a faster rate than at the ends of its swing and the amount of liquid deposited is greatest at the ends of its swing. This lack of uniformity of the feed from the pendulum can be compensated by forming the openings'in the side walls l8 of the hopper so that the discharge from the hopper is proportionately greater at the center than at the ends of the hopper. Thus, as shown in Fig. 5, the openings Zia at the ends of the hopper are located at a higher elevation than the openings at the center of the hopper and hence a part of'the liquid fed to the ends of the hopper will flow toward the center of the hopper so as to compensate for the lack of uniformity of the pendulum feed where the pendulum is driven by a crank. In other respects the form of the invention shown in Fig. is identical with that shown in Figs. 1-4.

Operation When starting the operationof this apparatus theJiquid feed pipe I! swings back and forth lengthwise of the hopper and delivers the liquid to be dried successively into diiferent parts of the hopper and alternately in opposite directions. The liquid delivered into the hopper is discharged through the two rows of openings 2| in the bottom part of the hopper on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the hopper in the formof tudinal line or vertical plane which lies between the center pf the valley and the axis of the respective drum; As the normal feeding of the liquid continues the some forms a pool the level of which varies but is always on a horizontal line located between the axes of the drums and the top'of the peripheries ofthe same, as shownpfor example,

by the broken line 46 in Fig. 3. This pool is maintained at a boiling temperature by the heated dilute feed liquid is fed at a distance from the centerline of the drums and hence is mixedimmediately with the liquid boiling in contact with the drums. When moving downward on account of its velocity and cooling effect it will contact the.

surface of the drums before reaching the bite and also be deflected upward by a current rising from the drum surface as indicated in Fig. 3. There-- fore, it will be heated rapidly to the boiling point and start to boil away from the drums toward the center of the pool; thereby mixing thoroughly with the liquid in the center. uniform concentration throughout the entire liquid in the pool which makes the liquid boil more freely and with less splashing.

Any material accumulating on the splash shields and occasionally sliding down into the poolof liquid will be mixed with the liquid in the pool by the boiling action at the sides of the drum and prevented from passing immediately into the bite.

Hence the incoming material is required to thoroughly mix with the more concentrated material already in the pool and heavy layers are prevented from building up along the drum surthe pool.

A certairi amount of splashing is incident to the boiling of the material in the spaceor valley between these drums. 'Heretofore this material would splash up against the hood l3 and bake thereon so as to be extremely difllcult to remove.

" ing liquid. This flow is aided by the saturateddrums. Duringthe downward rotation of the opposing surfaces of the drums the same are coated with the feed liquor and each drum carries a film of the same from the bite between the drums to the doctors-l5, during which times the .account of its velocity tends to flow directly down through the center of the pool to the bite between the Therefore this liquor does not properly mix with the liquid already in the pool with the result that layers of heavier material built up along the surfaces of the drums leaving a core of In accordance with the present vention, any splashed liquid is interceptedby the outer side of the feed hopper from which the splashings tend to flow downward and mix with the incomcondition of the vapors which prevent drying of these splashes. Thevapors therefore maintain the material in a moist condition so that splashings which impinge against it tend to slide down and rejoin the liquid in the pool.

' The splash curtains are kept in a. moist condition because the vapor passing between them is substantially saturated and these curtains are cooled by their contactwith the external atmosphere. As a result splashings reaching these moist splash curtains slough off and rejoin the pool. In any event the arrangement of the hopper and splash curtains is such as to' positively prevent any splashings from reaching the hood light material maintained by the direct downward flow of the incoming. dilute feed liquid as. just described. As a resultthe consistency of the I3, These several intercepting surfaces act efllciently as baflles which cross the path of the liquor splashings which are projected from the drums and return the same 'to the liquor pool so that no splashings reach the hood and thus render cleaning of the same unnecessary as well as avoiding waste of material.

Splashing of liquid has heretofore been found This provides more particularly troublesome when drying heavy viscous liquids,'such as distillery slops, which splashings in the present case are prevented from reaching the hood and instead will hit the bafile and shield means formed by the hopper. and the vented by the shield or baflle from reaching the hood.

We claim as our invention:

1. A viscous liquid feeding apparatus for a double drum drier having a, pair of parallel heated drums which have their opposing sides in closely spaced relation to one another and forming a valley therebetween containing a pool of said viscous liquid of substantial depth and width, said apparatus including means for delivering the viscous liquid to be dried into said pool at a distance from a vertical plane intersecting the bite of the drums and at a distance fromthe longitudinal sides of said pool whereby a turbulence is maintained in the viscous liquid in said pool.

2. A liquid feeding apparatus for a double drum drier having a pair ofparallel heated drums which have their opposing sides in closely spaced relation to one another and forming a valley therebetween which carries a pool of. said liquid, said apparatus including a liquid receiving hopper arranged lengthwise a substantial distance above said valley and provided on its underside with two longitudinal rows of openings which are arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the hopper and discharge liquid into said valley on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the same, and distributing flanges arranged below said rows of openings and extending laterally from the centralpart of said hopper and terminating a substantial distance above the surface of said pool and between a vertical plane intersecting the bite of the drums and the longitudinal sides of said pool whereby a turbulence is maintained in said pool.

3. A liquid feeding apparatus for a double drum drier having a pair of parallel heated drums Which have their opposing sides in closely spaced relation to one another and forming a valley therebetween which carries a pool of said liquid, said apparatus including a liquid receiving hopper which has downwardly converging side walls, and discharge openings in the lower parts of these walls through which the liquid is discharged into said valley on opposite sides of its longitudinal center, and distributing flanges secured to said hopper and arranged below said rows of openings and inclining laterally from the underside of said hopper toward opposite sides of the center of said valley and terminating a These baflle or on its undersidewith liquid discharge openings, a stationary support above said drums, and means for removably mounting said hopper on said support including pipes secured to the upper edges "of the'opposite sides of said hopper and resting attheir opposite ends on said support, each of said pipes being adapted forconnection with a water supply and provided with openings through which said water is discharged into said hopper for cleaning the same.

5. A liquid feeding apparatus for a drier having a pair of parallel heated drums forming a valley between their opposing upper parts, said feeding apparatus including a liquid'receiving substantial distance above the surface of said ing a pair of parallel heated drums forming a valley between their opposing upper parts, said feeding apparatus including a liquid receiving hopper arranged above said valley and provided in its operative position, including lowerand upper stationary supports arranged above said drums, pipes mounted on opposite longitudinal edges of said hopper and resting at their ends on said lower supports, and hangers each connected at its upper end on an upper support and detachable connected at its lower end with the central part of one side of said hopper.

6. A liquid feeding apparatus for a drier ha ing a pair of parallel heated drums forming a valley between their opposing upper parts, said feeding apparatus including a liquid receiving hopper arranged'above said valley and provided on its underside with liquid discharge openings,

and means for removably supporting said hopper detachably connected at its'lower end with the central part of one side of said hopper, the detachable connection between each hanger and the respective hopper side comprising a clip secured to said hopper side and provided with a downwardly turned hook, and an upwardly turned hook arranged on said hanger and engaging the upwardly turned hook on said hopper side.

'7. A liquid feeding apparatus for a drier having a pair of parallel heated drums forming a valley between their opposing upper parts, said feed-' ing apparatus including a liquid receiving hopper arranged above said valley and provided on its underside with liquid discharge openings, and means for removably supporting said hopper in its operative position, including lower and upper stationary supports arranged above said drums,

pipes mounted on opposite longitudinal edges of turned hook, an upwardly turned hook arranged on said hanger and engaging the upwardly turned hook on said hopper side, and stops arranged on said downwardly turned hook and on opposite sides of said upwardly turned hook.

8. A liquid feeding apparatusfor a drier having a pair of heated drums forming a valley between their opposing upper parts, saidfeeding apparatus including a liquid feed hopper arranged above said valley and having outlet openings through which the liquid is discharged from the hopper into said valley, splash plates ar- I ranged over said drums and on opposite sides of said'hopper, and means for adjusting said plates vertically relatively to said. drums, including a hook flange arranged on the upper edge of each of said plates, a supporting bar engaged by said hook flange, and an adjusting screw engagingsaid supporting bar and mounted'on a stationary support.

9. A liquid feeding apparatus for a-drier' havtween their opposing upper parts, said feeding .ing a pair of heated drums forming a valley beapparatus including a liquid feed hopper arupper edges of said curtains and engaging over relatively stationarysupports, flanges arranged at the lower edges of said curtains and projecting downwardly on the inner side of said splash plates, and clips arranged on the lower edges of saidcurtains and engaging over the upper edges of said plates.

10. A liquid feeding apparatus for a double' drum drier having a pair of parallel heated drums which have their opposing sides in closely spaced relation to one another and forming a valley therebetween, said apparatus including a liquid receiving hopper arranged lengthwise of said valley, and means for feeding liquid into said hopper at difierent rates in diflerent parts thereof, said hopper being provided on its underside with a longitudinal row of openings which are formed to efiect a movement of the liquid longitudinally of the hopper to compensate for the lack oi uniformity in the rate of liquor fed to the hopper.

f GUY'N. HARCOURT.

DUNCAN B. MONTGOY. v 

